TORRINGTON - Mayor Elinor Carbone held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday at Staches and Lashes, a beauty salon located at 257 Main St., celebrating the fledgling business.

Torrington native Kim Simon owns the shop and works there with Winsted native Shondra Hunter.

The two became friends at a previous job, and when Simon decided to open up shop on Main Street, Hunter came to join her. Both described the other as their best friend Wednesday.

Simon said she has been cutting and styling hair for about seven years - it was something she did in childhood, and carried through to the present - and always wanted to open up her own shop.

“I used to do my cousin's hair all the time when I was little, so it was one of those things that my whole family knew I was going to do it before I knew I was going to do it,” said Simon. “But I've always loved doing it, and always enjoyed doing it.”

Hunter said she always wanted to do this as well - a family friend was a hair stylist when she was young and served as inspiration. She went to Oliver Wolcott Technical School to study it, and is glad to have done so.

Stashes and Lashes has now been open for nearly a year, Simon said. The schedule has filled up - they were originally patronized largely by people walking in, but now the schedule is pretty well-booked.

“It's been very successful so far,” said Hunter.

Both Hunter and Simon said they like the job because it helps people feel happy.

“You make people feel good, you know? Changing the color of somebody's hair, giving them a fresh haircut - you walk out and you just feel better,” said Simon.

“It's very sociable. You get to meet a lot of people and talk to people constantly. And you just make people feel good about themselves - that's the best part, really,” said Hunter.

Carbone thanked Simon and Hunter for opening the business on Main Street Wednesday - it's just what the city is hoping for, she said.

"We're so excited that you're downtown. For downtown Main Street, all we're really trying to do is feet on the street, and businesses like this are doing that for us," said Carbone. "So we're grateful you're here and wish you the best of luck."